Ruben Amorim declared himself happy with Milan's victory over Lecce but maintained his side should have more than 11 points from their opening five Serie A matches, pointing to narrow misses against Juventus and Lazio as evidence of what has slipped away.
The win ended a three-game winless run that had soured the mood at San Siro, particularly after Wednesday's defeat to Benfica drew jeers from the home crowd. Beating Lecce before the international break offered some breathing space, though Amorim's comments suggested frustration still lingers beneath the relief.
"We deserved even more points. We could have won against Juve and Lazio. In Turin, we only conceded in injury time. In Rome, we created more chances. In recent games, we were rigid in our positions. This time, we had more freedom," Amorim said, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.
He acknowledged the work still ahead while pushing back against the idea that things have been chaotic. "We've improved, but we still have a lot to improve. It wasn't all over the place: at times, it seemed that way, especially after the recent results, but we need to find balance. We need balance in our judgments. I listen to the players, but then I decide. We want to be dominant in all situations."
Owner Gerry Cardinale, who has attended all five league fixtures so far, offered public backing after the final whistle. "These were some of the best 90 minutes of football we've seen. I want to congratulate Ruben and our players for continuing to fight in these first matches before the international break," Cardinale said.
He also appealed for patience with the project. "It shouldn't be lost on anyone that a new coach, with a new style of play and new players, will need time to find the right harmony. And I thank our fans for supporting us in this transition phase, as we try to put things right and return AC Milan to its winning tradition."
Eleven points from five games is a reasonable start on paper, but Amorim's own framing tells you where his ambitions sit. Whether the squad can close the gap between performance and points when Serie A resumes is now the question he carries into the break.